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Monday 8am - 4:30pm Tuesday 8am - 4:30pm Wednesday 8am - 4:30pm Thursday 8am - 4:30pm Friday 8am - 4:30pm

Child Care Aware of Minnesota Northeast

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Child Care Aware of Minnesota Northeast

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Pine Technical & Community College holds DCYF grant contracts for CCA MN NE and FFN supports.

This page shares related updates, resources, and PTCC Early Childhood Education opportunities — all for healthy, happy kids. Child Care Aware of Minnesota is a network of organizations from across the state dedicated to assisting families, early childhood professionals and the community with child care information, grants, services, and training. The mission of Child Care Aware of Minnesota is to promote high-quality, affordable, and accessible child care for all Minnesota families.

11/02/2026

Beep! Beep! Learning Ahead!

What happens when five silly sheep take a ride in a jeep? Lots of laughs—and lots of opportunities to learn!

Our November Sheep in a Jeep activities are all about turning a favorite story into playful learning.

Try this: Grab a toy car or jeep and a few small stuffed animals. Invite your child to load them up, take them for a ride, and act out the story!

As you play, explore words like up, down, in, out, push, and pull.

Little moments of play can build language, imagination, and problem-solving skills!

Explore our free Beyond the Book resources and learn more about our Family, Friend & Neighbor program:

Click here to access the pdf file: https://pine.edu/ffn/

10/30/2026

🎟️ Your Golden Ticket to Connection, Inspiration & Learning!

Have you saved the date yet?

Join us for the Together We Grow Conference, February 5–6, 2027, at Grand Casino Mille Lacs!

Two days of learning, connecting with fellow early childhood professionals, and finding a little inspiration to bring back to your work with children and families.

✨ Mark your calendar! More conference details and registration information are coming soon.

We can't wait to grow together!

10/28/2026

🐑 3,500 holes. One very patient Tara!

Ever wonder what goes into preparing our monthly FFN learning kits?

Sometimes it's books, activities, and creative ideas. And sometimes… it's punching 3,500 tiny holes in sheep!

Why? Because those little fingers are busy building the strength and coordination they'll need to hold a pencil, learn to write, and someday take classes right here at Pine Technical & Community College! We're just planning ahead! 😉 This month they'll build fluffy sheep with q-tips and the boxes Tara is working on.

Here's Tara, smiling through the task, all so little hands can have some fun with our upcoming Family, Friend, and Neighbor Monthly Learning Kit featuring the book Sheep in a Jeep!

These are the behind-the-scenes moments that make our learning kits possible. A HUGE thank you to Tara for helping us bring these activities to life!

And be sure to follow and watch this page for the "Beyond the Book" activities thats free for anyone to use!

💙 Want to learn more about our free FFN learning kits? Visit our webpage:
www.pine.edu/ffn

10/27/2026

🧠 ECIPs Tuesday: Managing Attention!

Have you ever watched a young child become so absorbed in play that the world around them seems to disappear?

That's attention at work!

Children develop the ability to focus, shift their attention, and return to activities over time. These skills grow through everyday experiences and supportive relationships.

💡 Try this: When a child is deeply engaged in play, give them time to explore before introducing a new activity or question.

When distractions happen, a gentle reminder or familiar routine can help them reconnect with what they were doing.

What helps children stay engaged in your learning environment?

10/26/2026

📅 October & November Training Opportunities!

There's still time to connect, learn, and grow with us this fall!

Take a look at our upcoming in-person training opportunities across Northeast Minnesota. Whether you're looking to meet licensing requirements, gain new ideas, or connect with other early childhood educators, we'd love to see you!

💙 Check out the flyer for upcoming classes, dates, and locations.

Register through Develop!
Training flyers can be downloaded here:
https://pine.edu/cca/professional-development-training/

10/23/2026

💙 Little moments. Big learning.

Sometimes the most meaningful learning happens in moments we almost overlook.

A toddler trying again after a tower falls.
A preschooler inviting someone new to play.
A child proudly announcing, “I did it myself!”

These everyday moments are filled with opportunities for growth, connection, and discovery.

As you wrap up another week, take a moment to think about something wonderful you noticed in the children you work with.

What little moment made you smile this week?

10/21/2026

Connecting Discipline, Communications and Relationships

How can we help young children develop self-discipline while building positive, nurturing relationships?

Inspired by the work of Fred Rogers, this in-person training explores how our own experiences influence the way we respond to children's behavior—and how empathy, connection, and supportive communication can help children grow.

You'll explore ways to guide children's behavior while strengthening the relationships that support their social and emotional development.

2 hours | In-Person Training
KCF II.C: Promoting Social and Emotional Development

Register through Develop!
https://app.developtoolmn.org/register.aspx?evid=462431

10/20/2026

🧠 ECIPs Micro-Learning: Working Memory

Working memory is more than remembering something later. It’s a child’s ability to hold onto information and use it for what they’re doing right now.

In the ECIPs, AL8: Working Memory is described as a child storing and retrieving information to use it purposefully. Minnesota Children and Families

You might notice it when a child:
- remembers what comes next in a familiar routine
- recalls the order of events in a story or experience
- follows a two-step direction
- uses something they learned before to solve a new problem

💡 How can adults support it?
Use familiar routines, songs and repeated sequences. Connect new experiences to things children already know. And instead of always supplying the next step, try asking:
“What comes next?”

Those little opportunities to remember, connect and act are building important learning skills.

Learn more about Minnesota’s updated Early Childhood Indicators of Progress:

10/19/2026

📍 LITTLE FALLS — IN-PERSON TRAINING!

From Lullabies to Literacy: The Importance of Relationships

Did you know that strong, nurturing relationships help build the foundation for early literacy?

Join us for an evening of learning inspired by the work of Fred Rogers! Explore how everyday interactions, loving relationships, and positive experiences help young children develop the skills they need for literacy.

📅 Monday, November 2, 2026
⏰ 6:30–8:30 PM
📍 Big Adventures Child Care Center, Little Falls

Two hours of in-person professional development, right in your community!

Register today through Develop!
https://app.developtoolmn.org/register.aspx?evid=462425

10/15/2026

💙 What Does Child Care Aware Actually Do?

So much!! And we're excited to start sharing some of the many ways we support early childhood educators!

Today, we're highlighting how we help people begin and grow their careers in early childhood education.

One way we do that is through Empower to Educate, a program that connects current and aspiring early childhood educators with personalized support to help them reach their career goals.

Through Empower to Educate, eligible participants can access:

⭐ One-on-one guidance from a local Workforce Advisor

⭐ FREE training opportunities and career resources

⭐ Financial incentives, including $300 to help complete training requirements and $600 after six months of working in a Minnesota child care program

⭐ Job search assistance and mentorship opportunities

Whether you're considering a career working with young children or looking to take your next step in the field, you don't have to figure it all out on your own!

💙 That's what we do! We connect educators with opportunities, resources, and support.

Learn more about Empower to Educate and connect with a Workforce Advisor:

https://www.childcareawaremn.org/providers/professional-development/empower-to-educate/

Address

900 4th Street SE
Pine City, MN
55063

Opening Hours

Monday	8am - 4:30pm
Tuesday	8am - 4:30pm
Wednesday	8am - 4:30pm
Thursday	8am - 4:30pm
Friday	8am - 4:30pm

Telephone

+18008905399

Website

http://www.pine.edu/cca

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